He will keep his rental business going, but owner Randy Gillespie sent out a press release to say he will close the doors of Golden State Cycle at the end of June. Gillespie names the down economy, changing trends, internet competition and the delay of the Adventure Trail project as factors in his decision.
Gillespie’s press release says:
“Dear Valued Customer, For several years the powersports industry has changed tremendously. Due to the economic downturn and competing with the Internet, makes it very hard to keep my doors open. My commitment and my love for Golden State Cycle is not enough.
After 21 years I will have to close the doors. I will try to make June 28th 2014 our last day of operation for Golden State Cycle. Please redeem your gift cards ASAP.
We have made so many memories surrounding this great sport. I would like to thank you for your continued support and long time friendship with Golden State Cycle. My wish for you is to keep riding, keep playing, and take advantage of our open roads and our open trails. Look for our liquidation sales coming soon.
Thank You…Keep Riding Randy Gillespie Owner/Golden State Cycle”
Golden State Cycle has operated on Bishop’s Main Street for 21 years, selling and renting motorized products popular in our desert region. It was Gillespie and Dick Noles who devoted a major personal effort to open up opportunities for dual designation vehicles to enjoy off-roading and then drive into our communities for services. Assembly woman Connie Conway authored AB628, and the legislature approved it nearly three years ago. But environmental legal challenges and delays by the Forest Service have held up progress. Gillespie said if Adventure Trails were operational, it is possible he would not have to close his store. He said the positive economic impact of the project might have kept other businesses from closing also.
Over the Mule Days holiday, the many visiting politicians converged in one big meeting at Creekside Inn to talk about AB628. Representatives of the Inyo Supervisors, Bishop City Council, CHP, Bishop Police Chief, County Sheriff, Congressman Paul Cook and Diane Feinstein’s Chief of Staff, among others, talked over the delays of the unique legislation that many other counties and cities have an eye on.
Inyo Sheriff Bill Lutze said the meeting was to get all parties in one room and focused on issues delaying the project. AB628 has a sunset clause that shuts it down in a couple of years. Inyo County is currently conducting an EIR on the project, and the Forest Service has lately blocked progress regarding roads on Forest land maintained by the County. Half of those 28 road are part of the Adventure Trails System. If they can’t be used, it could shut down the project.
The Forest Service is considering conducting a federal environmental review to turn over the roads to Inyo County, which is already maintaining them. The Sheriff said Congressman Cook and Senator Feinstein’s Office will look into this. He said the big meeting was to get everyone “on the same page and to try to get a direction to keep the Adventure Trails Project from dying.”
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I’m sorry to see Golden State Cycle go and I wish the owner and his employees the best in the future. That said, it wouldn’t break my heart to see the Adventure Trails concept disappear completely from Bishop.
moron.i mean trouble,you have no idea what the outcome would be,fact:395 is dangerous already
It’s sad to see a long-time business on the east side dry up. Still, I’ve never supported the idea of the Adventure Trails. I’ve regularly visited Utah for camping and hiking over the years, and ORVs are really popular there. Many (probably most) ORVers are responsible outdoor users, but more than a few aren’t. In those places where they’re legal, there’s always a disgusting amount of trash, beer cans and fresh scars on the desert where there weren’t already existing tracks. It would be terrible to see the eastside desecrated in similar style to what you can see in parts of the Uintas or the San Rafael Swell.
off-road vehicles on the highway would boost the local economy for the hospital,rite aid,a.m.r. and anyone else that supplies first aid and medical response
ferdinand…Do you mean for the ORV riders zipping around the streets and into traffic or the licensed over 17 year old drivers legally on the highway having to dodge them….or both ?
ferinand, the adventure trails will boost Bishops, Big Pines, Indy’s and Lone Pines economies greatly. Just not the fear mongering way you babel about.
Trouble…The same way that Whitney Portal Preserve greatly enhanced the Lone Pine area with added population of wealthy new residents….and how the Cougar Gold project was going to create hundreds of jobs for the Bridgeport people,as well as bringing in new residents to help with their economy…..This area WILL NOT maintain a heavy influx of ORV people….what it will do,or I should say WOULD do,since it’s a long way off from happening….if it happens at all,is cause more problems than any possible good it would bring into the area….take a drive down to Cal City and you’d see what I mean….better yet,go to Jawbone Canyon on a busy week-end and see what kind of crowd that area for ORV’ers brings in….not to mention what their “hobby” has done to the landscape down there when they decide to get off the desegnated trails and create their own..People came up here to hike,mountain bike,fish,ski and relax from the hussle-and-bussle of big city and rowdy living down south…if they want to speed around the desert,kicking up a bunch of dirt with their annoying behavior they have multiple choices to do that much closer to their L.A. roots…and not having to deal with mountain-bikers and hikers and families living on quiet residential streets that might take exception to their ” stop and look at me” behavior.
I wonder what Mr.Gillespie will do with the 1977 vintage Yamaha motorcycle, mounted on the wall? Anyway, it is sad that Bishop is losing another business which defined Main Street for many years. It boils down to those of us who did not support him enough monetarily, thought perhaps we enjoyed seeing his products.
The thought of witnessing off-road only machines on our street legal highways is controversial, to say the least. It may very well have boosted the local economy somewhat, but it seems as if the community did not support the idea 100%.
If you didn’t know it, this is not a sign of an improving economy
“The Forest Service is considering conducting a federal environmental review”
So first they have to consider it then they have to conduct it. That could take a while.
Could GSC closing be a major blow th the Adventure Trails Project? Seems like it.
Tinner..When the Forest Service is done with their environmental review,if it does get the O.K to proceed,then will come the BIG guns and environmental groups to delay or try to stop it….just like with the failed Whitney Portal Preserve project…the Bodie Hills “Cougar Gold” and their threats to the people of Bridgeport….among others….mark my words…this is only the beginning of MULTIPLE delays…..
What happens to warrenty support of my new Honda lawnmower? Motorcycles etc. are not the only item sold there.
We off-roaders will miss Randy and his shop, truly the passing of an era.
Maybe Mr.Gillespie should move his business to the TOML,where ,back a couple months ago,that one poster was saying he was following around that family of ORV riders, where they bought multiple motorcycles in the Von’s parking lot,where they were shopping and how much they spent on groceries,where they were having breakfast,lunch and dinner, and how much it costed them,the condo they had rented and how much they paid for it,and that $20,000.00 plus dollars they spent in town that weekend.
Wayne: I remember that one. It was both amusing and scary to think of that guy stalking people around town — if he wasn’t just under the influence of something.
BUI — blogging under the influence.
But it wouldn’t really help to move his business to Mammoth Lakes because there would be an instant increase of the prices because of all the taxes. Sure way to kill business.
Ken….I kinda thought it wasn’t true when I read it…How would he have found out the families breakfast for 4 costed $76.87…plus a 20 % tip ?….or their dinner costed $256.98 ? In order to have come up with that TOTAL week-end spending at over $ 20,000.00,how would he have possibly known all that stuff other than following close behind them with a calculator in his hand…..but it was amusing….not true,but amusing.
Wayne: I remember that one. That person never did that. Remember the guy who said he got free food because he was nice to the bar tender. Or the “Best Summer Ever” when that Summer came in 20% below forcast.
Blogs like this one are used by some people who want to spread disinformation to promote their causes. And they get away with it because of the lack of critical thinking.
On the other hand, disinformation can be quite entertaining.
Ken….And the thing is,it ALWAYS seems to be someone from the TOML saying it….. trying to reel in more people….and more $$$$$…….
Wayne: Like I said, nothing ever gets done unless somebody somewhere is making a lot of money.